Project/Unit Description The Applied Systems Laboratory (ASL) is seeking a Lead System Integrator for a technical government program. GTRI serves as a system integrator on this program, which involves multiple vendor contractors delivering subsystems and configuration items that must be integrated, tested, and verified against a shared set of system and interface requirements.
The Lead System Integrator will work closely with the Program Manager, configuration management, and technical leads across GTRI and vendor teams to ensure integration and test activities keep pace with program milestones.
Job Purpose The Systems Engineer oversees and coordinates the work of technical teams on systems projects, ensuring the successful design, implementation, operation, and technical management of those projects. Taking a holistic approach to systems engineering, the Systems Engineer ensures that all aspects of a system project are considered and addressed. The Systems Engineer works closely with stakeholders to understand their needs and then develops and documents technical requirements that meet those needs. The Systems Engineer leads the design team in developing a system architecture that meets all of the requirements. After the system is designed, the Systems Engineer oversees the implementation of the system, working with the implementation team to ensure that it meets all of the requirements. Once the system is deployed, the Systems Engineer manages the technical aspects of the system, including monitoring performance, troubleshooting problems, and making improvements.
Key Responsibilities - Manage all technical aspects of product or system design and strategic architecture including directing multiple lab resources for large scale product or system deployments.
- Manage sub-contractor resources supporting all system engineering areas (definition, requirements analysis, architecture roadmaps, synthesis, systems analysis and implementation).
- Conduct product or system design synthesis translating requirements into physical architectures for systems of high complexity to include defining and refining internal and external interfaces.
- Develop technical reports and diagrams detailing product or system attributes.
- Direct teams to implement, document, and maintain the products' architecture roadmaps, designs, procedures, standards, and metrics, as well as ensure compliance and conformity of software architecture and technology standards.
- Compile report input from other researchers and prepare final report deliverables.
- Serve as a resource and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for systems engineering tools and technologies.
Additional Responsibilities System Integration Leadership
- Own the technical strategy and execution plan for integrating subsystems and configuration items delivered by multiple vendor contractors into a single verifiable system.
- Serve as a technical point of contact for vendor teams on integration and interface matters, escalating unresolved issues to the Program Manager as needed.
- Develop, review, and maintain test procedures that verify system and interface requirements are satisfied, including procedures supporting interface control documents (ICDs) and interim/working agreements where formal ICDs are still maturing.
- Identify integration risks early - particularly at subsystem and vendor boundaries - and drive resolution in coordination with engineering leads and the Program Manager.
- Support definition and enforcement of criteria used to promote artifacts and configuration items from vendor-delivered baselines to accepted, integrated baselines.
Test and Integration Team Management
- Manage the daily activities, tasking, and technical direction of a dedicated test and integration (T&I) team.
- Plan and sequence integration events and test activities against the program schedule, adjusting priorities as vendor deliveries and program milestones shift.
- Mentor and develop team members, ensuring consistent application of test procedures, data collection standards, and configuration discipline.
- Coordinate use of test facilities, equipment, and any specialized environments required to execute integration and test events.
Technical Governance and Process
- Help define and mature the program's integration and test processes, particularly on programs with an early-stage governance structure.
- Coordinate with configuration management on control of test procedures, test data, and integration artifacts within the program's system of record.
- Support requirements traceability efforts to ensure test procedures adequately verify allocated system and interface requirements.
Required Minimum Qualifications - Systems integration and test experience.
- Demonstrated experience leading integration and test activities on a complex, multi-vendor program.
- Experience developing and executing test procedures against system and/or interface requirements.
- Experience managing or directing the daily work of a technical team (test, integration, or engineering).
- Ability to interpret and apply system requirements, interface control documents, and configuration management artifacts.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to translate technical status into programmatic terms for non-technical stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications - Active Secret Clearance.
- 10+ years of relevant systems integration and test experience.
- Experience as a lead system integrator or integration/test lead on a government acquisition program.
- Familiarity with configuration management tools and PLM systems (e.g., Windchill) and with structured data/document management environments.
- Experience supporting or authoring contract deliverables related to test plans, test procedures, or verification/validation reporting.
- Experience working across multiple contractor teams and deconflicting competing technical priorities.
- Familiarity with systems engineering standards and practices (e.g., MIL-STD-31000, SEMP-based programs).
- Experience supporting baseline-promotion or baseline-acceptance processes in a multi-vendor integration environment.
Travel Requirements 10% - 25% travel
Education and Length of Experience This position vacancy is an open-rank announcement.The final job offerwill be dependent on candidate qualifications in alignment with Research Faculty Extension Professional ranks as outlined in section 3.2.1 of the Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook
- 14 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
- 12 years of related experience with a Masters' degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
- 9 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
U.S. Citizenship Requirements Due to our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be U.S. Citizens.
Clearance Type Required Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain an active security clearance.
Benefits at GTRI Comprehensive information on currently offered GTRI benefits, including Health & Welfare, Retirement Plans, Tuition Reimbursement, Time Off, and Professional Development, can be found through this link: https://benefits.hr.gatech.edu/.
